Every year, the Academy Awards remind us of one brutal truth: Indian cinema is capable of greatness, but it keeps falling short where it matters most.
We can build massive sets, choreograph battle sequences, and pour crores into production, but when was the last time an Indian film truly competed—and won—at the Oscars?
Chhaava (2025) had everything on paper—a historical epic, a celebrated warrior, a compelling lead. But what it lacked was a producer’s vision that could elevate it beyond its regional roots into a film that speaks to the world. That’s the difference between another big Indian / Bollywood release, and a Best Picture contender at the Oscars.
So what does it actually take for an Indian film to go beyond domestic success and enter the Oscar conversation? What do movies like Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, The Zone of Interest, and Anatomy of a Fall understand that we don’t?
This isn’t just about Chhaava. It’s about every Indian filmmaker who dreams of the Oscars but doesn’t know the roadmap to get there.
Let’s break it down—what went wrong, what was missing, and most importantly, how we finally make it happen. 🎬🔥
The Oscar Standard: What Defines a Best Picture?
The 2025 Oscar nominations reveal a pattern—films that seamlessly blend narrative depth, character complexity, and technical excellence. This year’s contenders all share common traits:
✅ A Clear, Emotional Core – Whether it's the intimate struggles of a protagonist (Past Lives), the socio-political undercurrents of historical events (Oppenheimer), or a deeply personal journey (Anatomy of a Fall), every nominated film places story above spectacle.
✅ Character-Driven Storytelling – Best Picture nominees thrive on internal conflict, emotional arcs, and deeply nuanced performances. Even large-scale epics (Killers of the Flower Moon) maintain razor-sharp focus on their characters.
✅ Authenticity and Universal Appeal – The greatest historical biopics don’t just recount events; they resonate beyond cultural and geographical barriers. Schindler’s List, Gladiator, and 12 Years a Slave are masterclasses in how history can be cinematic yet universally impactful.
Now, let’s examine Chhaava through this lens and explore what needed to change to elevate it to an Oscar-worthy contender.
Where Chhaava Stumbles: A Gap Analysis
While Chhaava is visually striking and culturally significant, it falls short in storytelling craft, emotional resonance, and universal engagement. Here’s where it lags behind the Oscar nominees:
1. A Strong Story Arc vs. A Theatrical Reenactment
Oscar-nominated historical dramas don’t just recount events; they immerse the audience in character-driven storytelling.
🔸 Oppenheimer transforms a well-known historical figure into a deeply conflicted man, forcing the audience to wrestle with his internal struggles.
🔸 Chhaava, on the other hand, treats its protagonist more as a legendary figure than a human character. It leans too heavily on hagiography—glorifying its lead without exploring his vulnerabilities, moral dilemmas, or psychological depth.
📌 Fix: Instead of merely depicting the events of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s life, the narrative should have explored his internal conflicts. His struggles—against betrayal, destiny, or self-doubt—should have driven the story.
2. Emotional Depth vs. Historical Checklist
Great historical films don’t just tell what happened—they make the audience feel it.
🔸 Killers of the Flower Moon isn’t just about the Osage murders; it’s about power, betrayal, and the weight of history.
🔸 Chhaava, however, lacks personal stakes and emotional weight. The screenplay moves from one event to another, checking off milestones in the hero’s life, rather than building emotional tension and narrative momentum.
📌 Fix: The story needed a more personal lens—perhaps through a confidant, an adversary, or a character whose perspective challenges Sambhaji Maharaj’s beliefs. This would have made his victories more earned and his losses more devastating.
3. Complex Characters vs. One-Dimensional Depictions
🔸 Anatomy of a Fall thrives on moral ambiguity—there are no clear heroes or villains, just deeply flawed human beings.
🔸 Chhaava falls into the Bollywood trap of binary characterizations—the hero is virtuous beyond reproach, while the antagonists are textbook villains. There’s little room for moral complexity or character evolution.
📌 Fix: Internal conflict and shades of gray would have transformed the film’s protagonist into a more engaging, three-dimensional character.
4. Visual Grandeur vs. Meaningful Cinematic Language
🔸 Oppenheimer’s cinematography enhances its themes—every frame serves the story.
🔸 Chhaava relies on grand visuals but lacks visual storytelling depth. The cinematography, while polished, doesn’t elevate the narrative beyond spectacle.
📌 Fix: The visuals should have been an extension of the character’s emotions. For instance, shifting the color palette or framing based on his psychological state would have added another layer of storytelling.
5. Global Relatability vs. Niche Appeal
🔸 Past Lives and The Zone of Interest explore themes of identity, love, and regret—universal emotions that resonate beyond cultural boundaries.
🔸 Chhaava, however, assumes pre-existing cultural reverence. While its subject is undeniably important, the film doesn’t bridge the gap for global audiences.
📌 Fix: The film needed to frame its story in universally engaging terms. It should have asked: Why should someone who knows nothing about Indian history care about this story? The emotional stakes must resonate beyond its immediate cultural context. It must engage and compel along our shared humanity across the world.
Chhaava vs. Braveheart: The Road to an Oscar-Worthy Indian Epic If Chhaava had been crafted with the depth, emotional complexity, and universal appeal of Braveheart, it could have been India’s true Oscar contender. Think about it—Braveheart wasn’t just a war epic; it was a visceral, deeply human story about a man fighting against oppression, driven by both vengeance and an unshakable belief in freedom. The raw intensity of William Wallace’s journey—his pain, his passion, his sacrifice—made audiences worldwide feel his struggle as their own. That’s what a great historical epic does—it doesn’t just show history, it makes you live it.
Now, imagine Chhaava through that lens. What if Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s story wasn’t just a grand retelling of battles and victories, but a soul-stirring exploration of his inner conflicts? The weight of his father’s legacy pressing down on him. The betrayals that tested his resolve. The love, the loss, the choices that defined his fate. A film that isn’t just a regional spectacle, but a universal human drama, where his fight for Swarajya resonates beyond India—because, at its heart, it’s the fight of every warrior who ever dared to defy tyranny. This is what separates Oscar-winning historical epics from mere retellings. This is what Chhaava needed to soar beyond borders, beyond language, beyond the confines of Bollywood’s formulaic storytelling. The question is—are we ready to tell our stories not just for us, but for the world?
The Path to an Oscar-Worthy Chhaava
A historical epic like Chhaava could have been a global cinematic milestone with these enhancements:
1️⃣ Shift from Spectacle to Substance – Ground the film in strong character arcs, dilemmas, and emotional payoffs.
2️⃣ Make It Personal – Focus on relationships and conflicts rather than just historical milestones.
3️⃣ Embrace Moral Complexity – Give depth to both heroes and villains to create a richer, more thought-provoking narrative.
4️⃣ Use Visuals as Storytelling Tools – Cinematography should reflect character psychology, not just aesthetic grandeur.
5️⃣ Find the Universal Hook – Frame the film’s themes so that audiences worldwide can connect with its emotional core.
What Chhaava Needed: A Real Producer, Not Just a Financier
If Chhaava (2025) ever had a shot at an Oscar nomination—let alone a win—it needed more than a director with vision and actors with intent. It needed a Producer in the truest sense of the word. Not just a financier, not just a scheduler, but a story-first, discipline-driven, results-oriented producer who could steer the ship from concept to global recognition. The kind of producer that makes Hollywood films Oscar contenders, the kind Bollywood sorely lacks.
Because here’s the truth: Great movies don’t just happen. They are designed. And that design? That’s the producer’s job.
1. Locking the Foundation: Development with an Oscar-Worthy Vision
The journey to the Oscars doesn’t start at the box office—it starts at the script level. The moment Chhaava was greenlit, an effective producer would have asked the critical questions:
✔️ Does this story have universal appeal?
✔️ Is the character arc layered, compelling, and emotionally gripping?
✔️ Are we prioritizing narrative depth over spectacle?
A producer like Scott Rudin (No Country for Old Men, The Social Network) would have ensured that the screenplay wasn’t a historical retelling, but a gripping, deeply personal story that transcended cultural barriers—one that anyone, anywhere in the world, could connect with.
And that means getting the right writer in the room. A producer worth their salt would have assembled a writing team that could find the human core of the story instead of settling for a play-by-play reenactment of history.
2. Casting Beyond Star Power: Actors Who Disappear Into Roles
A real producer knows that great performances win Oscars, not star billing.
Kathleen Kennedy (Schindler’s List, Lincoln) doesn’t cast based on box office pull—she casts based on who can bring the story to life in the most authentic way.
A disciplined producer would have made sure:
🔹 The lead actor embodies the role completely, transforming into Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, not just playing him.
🔹 Supporting characters aren’t props—they are fully developed with emotional stakes.
🔹 Screen tests and chemistry reads dictate final casting—not nepotism, not corporate pressure.
3. Pre-Production: Vision Meets Realism
A Frank Marshall (Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) type of producer would have locked in the entire vision before shooting a single frame:
🎬 Cinematic Style: Every Oscar-winning film has a distinct visual language. The producer would collaborate with the cinematographer and director to establish how this story is told visually—not just how expensive it looks.
📖 Historical Research: Authenticity isn’t about costumes; it’s about lived-in realism. The producer would demand deep research and consultation with historians to ensure the film doesn’t just depict history but immerses audiences in it.
🎼 Score & Sound: Music isn’t an afterthought. The producer would involve a composer early on—Hans Zimmer-level early—to craft a score that elevates emotions beyond words.
4. Production: The Fine Line Between Discipline and Magic
A Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean, Top Gun: Maverick) doesn’t let chaos dictate production. Every decision serves the film’s success.
A producer with Oscar ambitions would ensure:
🔹 A tight schedule that prioritizes performance over vanity.
🔹 Budget discipline that focuses resources on storytelling, not unnecessary spectacle.
🔹 Accountability—ensuring the director, actors, and crew stay aligned with the storytelling vision.
5. Post-Production: Crafting the Final Masterpiece
An Oscar-worthy producer doesn’t rush the edit to meet a festival deadline. They shape the final film into its best version.
🖊️ Test Screenings Matter: A smart producer would test multiple versions of the film, refining pacing, character arcs, and emotional beats.
🎞️ Editing for Maximum Impact: The best films know when to cut. A producer with storytelling instincts would ensure tight, efficient editing—letting moments breathe when needed, but keeping tension high.
🎧 Sound Design that Elevates, Not Just Exists: Every Oscar-winning film understands how critical sound is to immersion. A producer would ensure every soundscape enhances storytelling—from battle sequences to whispered confessions.
6. The Oscar Campaign: Positioning the Film for Global Success
The work doesn’t end when the film is complete. If Chhaava were to enter the Oscar race, a true producer would:
🏆 Strategize the Film Festival Circuit – Getting the right premieres (Venice, Toronto, Telluride), creating Oscar buzz months in advance.
💡 Secure Global Distribution – Ensuring Chhaava reaches international critics, not just Indian audiences.
📣 Craft the Right Narrative – Every Oscar winner has a compelling story behind the film. The producer’s job? Make sure Chhaava is framed as an unmissable, must-watch epic.
The Bottom Line: Without a Strong Producer, Chhaava Never Had a Chance
History doesn’t win Oscars. Storytelling does.
A real producer—one who understands global cinema, narrative depth, and the disciplined execution of vision—could have turned Chhaava into a contender, not just a cultural footnote.
Because in the end, great films don’t happen by chance. They are crafted, nurtured, and fiercely protected—by producers who know that story comes first, always.
🎬 So, Indian cinema: Are you ready to bring real producers back?
The Road to Oscar Glory: Will India Rise to the Challenge? 🎬🏆
If Chhaava (2025) taught us anything, it’s that cinema is not just about spectacle—it’s about soul. And if India truly wants to take its place on the global stage, we need to stop chasing box office illusions and start investing in storytelling excellence.
The Oscars don’t reward who spent the most, who had the biggest stars, or who pushed the most PR. They reward films that move people, transcend borders, and redefine the craft.
Lessons for Future Oscar Contenders from India:
✅ Story First, Always – Historical accuracy alone won’t win; deep, universal storytelling will.
✅ Producers Must Lead, Not Follow – Without a producer who understands the art AND the business, Indian films will keep missing their shot.
✅ Global Vision is Key – Films need emotional depth and narrative clarity that resonate beyond Indian audiences.
✅ Execution is Everything – From script to score to sound design, every frame must serve the story with ruthless precision.
✅ The Right Oscar Campaign Matters – Positioning a film for the world isn’t an afterthought; it’s part of the strategy from Day 1.
Indian cinema has the potential to stand shoulder to shoulder with Hollywood, South Korea, and Europe—but only if we dismantle the outdated Bollywood model and embrace a storytelling-first future.
The world is waiting for India’s cinematic masterpiece. The only question is: Are we ready to deliver? 🎬🔥
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